Encrypting problem

[Richard]

I encrypted data on my second hard drive the next day my
first hard drive failed (it had my windows xp pro
installation on it) i had to get a new hard drive with a
new xp installation on it. I no longer have access to my
files on my second drive because they were encrypted by
my previous windows installation. Is there any way to
unencrypt these files? Pls help i really need to get
these files back.

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Before you encrypt anything important, you should back up your
personal encryption certificate (with its associated private key)
and the recovery agent certificate to a floppy disk and store it in
a secure location. If you ever lose your original certificate
(because of a hard disk failure, for example), you can restore
the backup copy and regain access to your files. If you lose all
copies of your certificate (and no recovery agent certificates exist),
you won't be able to use your encrypted files. No back door exists,
nor is there any practical way to hack these files.
(If there were, it wouldn't be very good encryption.)

HOW TO: Remove File Encryption in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308993

Without a backup of the original Encryption Certificate Key, encrypted files
are unrecoverable as they will stay encrypted forever. There is no recovery
method since the encryption algorithm is now completely different with a
reinstall of Windows XP.

See if the following articles help in any way:

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

Best Practices for the Encrypting File System
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;223316

Encrypting File System in Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/deploy/CryptFS.asp

EFS Files Appear Corrupted When You Open Them
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;329741

Possible third-party solution:

Advanced EFS Data Recovery 1.30
http://www.softempire.com/advanced-efs-data-recovery.html

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

---------------------------------------------------------------------

"Richard" > wrote in message:
...

|I encrypted data on my second hard drive the next day my
| first hard drive failed (it had my windows xp pro
| installation on it) i had to get a new hard drive with a
| new xp installation on it. I no longer have access to my
| files on my second drive because they were encrypted by
| my previous windows installation. Is there any way to
| unencrypt these files? Pls help i really need to get
| these files back.

[CS]

On Thu, 1 Apr 2004 13:42:16 -0800, "Richard" >
wrote:

>I encrypted data on my second hard drive the next day my
>first hard drive failed (it had my windows xp pro
>installation on it) i had to get a new hard drive with a
>new xp installation on it. I no longer have access to my
>files on my second drive because they were encrypted by
>my previous windows installation. Is there any way to
>unencrypt these files? Pls help i really need to get
>these files back.

Did you make a separate backup copy of the certificates? If they were
on the hard drive that crashed, you are out of luck. Your data is
gone forever unless you can get someone like the NSA or FBI to decrypt
it for you. Sorry, but encryption is a dangerous tool to use.

[Richard Urban]

You are basically screwed!

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

"Richard" > wrote in message
...
>I encrypted data on my second hard drive the next day my
> first hard drive failed (it had my windows xp pro
> installation on it) i had to get a new hard drive with a
> new xp installation on it. I no longer have access to my
> files on my second drive because they were encrypted by
> my previous windows installation. Is there any way to
> unencrypt these files? Pls help i really need to get
> these files back.

[Brian Coats]

You could possible send the hard drive to a data recovery company.
However, that will cost a lot of money with no guarantees . If you
are the desperate to get your data back.

Brian



>On Thu, 1 Apr 2004 22:55:16 -0500, "Richard Urban" > wrote:

>You are basically screwed!
>
>--
>Regards:
>
>Richard Urban
>
>aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)
>
>"Richard" > wrote in message
...
>>I encrypted data on my second hard drive the next day my
>> first hard drive failed (it had my windows xp pro
>> installation on it) i had to get a new hard drive with a
>> new xp installation on it. I no longer have access to my
>> files on my second drive because they were encrypted by
>> my previous windows installation. Is there any way to
>> unencrypt these files? Pls help i really need to get
>> these files back.
>
>

[Plato]

Richard wrote:
>
> I encrypted data on my second hard drive the next day my

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootlist/144.htm#1



--
http://www.bootdisk.com/

[Richard Urban]

He has the files. He just can't access them - ever again!

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

"Brian Coats" > wrote in message
...
> You could possible send the hard drive to a data recovery company.
> However, that will cost a lot of money with no guarantees . If you
> are the desperate to get your data back.
>
> Brian
>
>
>
>>On Thu, 1 Apr 2004 22:55:16 -0500, "Richard Urban"
> wrote:
>
>>You are basically screwed!
>>
>>--
>>Regards:
>>
>>Richard Urban
>>
>>aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)
>>
>>"Richard" > wrote in message
...
>>>I encrypted data on my second hard drive the next day my
>>> first hard drive failed (it had my windows xp pro
>>> installation on it) i had to get a new hard drive with a
>>> new xp installation on it. I no longer have access to my
>>> files on my second drive because they were encrypted by
>>> my previous windows installation. Is there any way to
>>> unencrypt these files? Pls help i really need to get
>>> these files back.
>>
>>
>

[Richard Urban]

He has the files. He just can't access them - ever again!

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

"Brian Coats" > wrote in message
...
> You could possible send the hard drive to a data recovery company.
> However, that will cost a lot of money with no guarantees . If you
> are the desperate to get your data back.
>
> Brian
>
>
>
>>On Thu, 1 Apr 2004 22:55:16 -0500, "Richard Urban"
> wrote:
>
>>You are basically screwed!
>>
>>--
>>Regards:
>>
>>Richard Urban
>>
>>aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)
>>
>>"Richard" > wrote in message
...
>>>I encrypted data on my second hard drive the next day my
>>> first hard drive failed (it had my windows xp pro
>>> installation on it) i had to get a new hard drive with a
>>> new xp installation on it. I no longer have access to my
>>> files on my second drive because they were encrypted by
>>> my previous windows installation. Is there any way to
>>> unencrypt these files? Pls help i really need to get
>>> these files back.
>>
>>
>

[NobodyMan]

On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 04:24:57 GMT, (Brian
Coats) wrote:


>>On Thu, 1 Apr 2004 22:55:16 -0500, "Richard Urban" > wrote:
>
>>You are basically screwed!
>>
>>--
>>Regards:
>>
>>Richard Urban
>>
>>aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)
>>
>>"Richard" > wrote in message
...
>>>I encrypted data on my second hard drive the next day my
>>> first hard drive failed (it had my windows xp pro
>>> installation on it) i had to get a new hard drive with a
>>> new xp installation on it. I no longer have access to my
>>> files on my second drive because they were encrypted by
>>> my previous windows installation. Is there any way to
>>> unencrypt these files? Pls help i really need to get
>>> these files back.
>>
>>
>You could possible send the hard drive to a data recovery company.
>However, that will cost a lot of money with no guarantees . If you
>are the desperate to get your data back.
>
>Brian

The OP doesn't need the files recovered - they are still there. He
needs the files decrypted. A data recovery company isn't going to be
much help there. Once the encryption certifcates are lost, without
the help of the NSA and a few supercomputers (and a lot of TIME)
nothing will restore those encrypted files.

[NobodyMan]

On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 04:24:57 GMT, (Brian
Coats) wrote:


>>On Thu, 1 Apr 2004 22:55:16 -0500, "Richard Urban" > wrote:
>
>>You are basically screwed!
>>
>>--
>>Regards:
>>
>>Richard Urban
>>
>>aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)
>>
>>"Richard" > wrote in message
...
>>>I encrypted data on my second hard drive the next day my
>>> first hard drive failed (it had my windows xp pro
>>> installation on it) i had to get a new hard drive with a
>>> new xp installation on it. I no longer have access to my
>>> files on my second drive because they were encrypted by
>>> my previous windows installation. Is there any way to
>>> unencrypt these files? Pls help i really need to get
>>> these files back.
>>
>>
>You could possible send the hard drive to a data recovery company.
>However, that will cost a lot of money with no guarantees . If you
>are the desperate to get your data back.
>
>Brian

The OP doesn't need the files recovered - they are still there. He
needs the files decrypted. A data recovery company isn't going to be
much help there. Once the encryption certifcates are lost, without
the help of the NSA and a few supercomputers (and a lot of TIME)
nothing will restore those encrypted files.

[NobodyMan]

On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 04:24:57 GMT, (Brian
Coats) wrote:


>>On Thu, 1 Apr 2004 22:55:16 -0500, "Richard Urban" > wrote:
>
>>You are basically screwed!
>>
>>--
>>Regards:
>>
>>Richard Urban
>>
>>aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)
>>
>>"Richard" > wrote in message
...
>>>I encrypted data on my second hard drive the next day my
>>> first hard drive failed (it had my windows xp pro
>>> installation on it) i had to get a new hard drive with a
>>> new xp installation on it. I no longer have access to my
>>> files on my second drive because they were encrypted by
>>> my previous windows installation. Is there any way to
>>> unencrypt these files? Pls help i really need to get
>>> these files back.
>>
>>
>You could possible send the hard drive to a data recovery company.
>However, that will cost a lot of money with no guarantees . If you
>are the desperate to get your data back.
>
>Brian

The OP doesn't need the files recovered - they are still there. He
needs the files decrypted. A data recovery company isn't going to be
much help there. Once the encryption certifcates are lost, without
the help of the NSA and a few supercomputers (and a lot of TIME)
nothing will restore those encrypted files.